Meaning & use

Burl

noun·Academic

Last updated

A rounded, knotty growth on a tree trunk, prized for its swirling grain in woodworking; also, a small knot or lump in fabric.

See it in a sentence

The craftsman turned a beautiful bowl from a maple burl.

A stray burl in the wool made the sweater feel slightly rough in one spot.

A note on using this word

Burls form when a tree experiences stress, such as injury or fungal infection, causing localized, chaotic grain growth that is highly valued by furniture makers.

Words with a similar meaning

knotknob

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